Kerala strongly protests TN police in Mullaperiyar

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 3: Kerala today strongly protested the pre+sence of Tamil Nadu police personnel in the Mullaperiyar dam area even as the contentious issue was before the Supreme Court.

''The Tamil Nadu police officials under a police commandant today visited the spillway of the dam. This is really unwarranted on the part of the neighbour when the case of posting a central team at the dam site was pending, '' Kerala Irrigation Minister N K Premachandran told reporters here.

''We are not averse to any one who comes here to conduct studies at the dam site. But the presence of police officials in uniform only raises doubts,'' he said.

Stressing that the neighbour's act could not be justified, he said the Tamil Nadu Police had no right to encroach upon the state's territory.

The police officials returned after the Kerala police lodged strong protest, Mr Premachandran said.

Mr Premachandran also said these acts of Tamil Nadu would not be good for cordial relation between the two.

UNI